Brazilian protesters use soccer spotlight to highlight social problems

Protests which began over the public cost of transporty have turned into a massive wave taking in five of Brazil's biggest cities. The protest is happening as Brazil hosts the FIFA Confederations Cup and could be a taste of what's to come when the World Cup goes to Brazil next year.

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PETER LLOYD: Widespread protests across many of Brazil's largest cities show no sign of abating, as authorities bring in the National Guard to protect the FIFA Confederations Cup from the unrest.

The protests are believed to have been sparked by an increase in public transport fares, but have since evolved to take in concerns about public spending and corruption.

They are the country's biggest protests in decades, and point to deep-seated social problems, which observers say must be addressed before Brazil hosts the soccer World Cup next year.

Simon Lauder reports.

SIMON LAUDER: The protests began in opposition to public transport fare increases in Brazil's two biggest cities, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Those fare increases have now been cancelled, but that hasn't satisfied the protesters.

Many are angry that the government has invested billions of dollars preparing to host the World Cup and the Olympics, and, the protests have now spread to five of the country's biggest cities.

DEMONSTRATOR I (translation): I want education, I want good hospitals, and not a football stadium, for goodness sake.

DEMONSTRATOR II (translation): This is not just because of a fair hike. This is for our rights. The people woke up. The bus fare hike was just the moment of awakening. Now, we are fighting for better health care, security and education. We are tired, man. This is the time to fight.

SIMON LAUDER: Brazil's government is deploying a national security force to cities which are hosting the FIFA Confederations Cup.

The Brazilian president, Dilma Rousseff, has promised to listen to the needs of the demonstrators.

Dr Sean Burges from the Australian National University's centre for Latin America Studies says these are Brazil's biggest protests for about 20 years, and the protesters are serious about getting results.

SEAN BURGES: You need to understand the reality of Brazil. The taxation system in Brazil is spectacularly effective. They're taxed at the same rate that we are here in Australia, but they don't have the same services.

So, what people are saying is, you know, how come I'm paying first world taxes and I'm getting third world services? And, at the same time you're spending billions building these pharaonic temples to soccer and to sport for the Olympics and the World Cup and you've done it in record time.

Why are we able to do things that are high profile for politicians, but nothing for the people.

SIMON LAUDER: It'll be coming up to daylight in Brazil shortly. What do you think Thursday in Rio will bring?

SEAN BURGES: Stuff I've seen on Facebook has all been saying, you know, "Tomorrow night, to the streets". So, it looks like, you know, my friends are going to be out on the street, and I imagine this will keep going for a while and they're going to keep doing it, because the world will see it, because it's attached to the Confederations Cup, and that's been very clever.

Sepp Blatter has shoved his foot right through his mouth and right down his throat by saying, "How dare you link you know social and political protests to football," as if the soccer should be something standing apart and above from the daily reality of the people.

He's forgetting who plays the game predominantly. So, I think you know it's going to keep going, definitely while the TV cameras are there for the soccer.

SIMON LAUDER: Of course, there's the World Cup there next year. Does this give the government a deadline to sort out all these social problems?

SEAN BURGES: Well, you mention the World Cup. There's a more important deadline - there's a presidential election next year. So, if Dilma wants to get re-elected or have a hope in hell of being re-elected, she needs to do something and do it fast.

The World Cup? Guarantee it. There's going to be protests, there's going to be disruption. The media will cover it because it'll be sexy, but I really don't think it's going to be something that's violent or something that, you know, Australians going to see the Aussies play, the Socceroos play in Rio need to worry about.

It'll probably be more like a carnival, party atmosphere. We want to make our point, we want to educate you, we want you to understand. Come join the party. You don't need to worry about Turkish style democratic protests where you've got tear gas flying and people burning things and attacking things.

It'll be much more festive, I think.

SIMON LAUDER: Well, with all of that going on now, how do you see this ending?

SEAN BURGES: I don't know. I think, what I'm hoping is that you know Dilma, the president, says she's listening to the protestors, and hopefully they'll respond.